Attorney General Kris Mayes announces lawsuit against real estate scam in Arizona

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY/NBC) - Attorney General Kris Mayes announced a lawsuit Monday against an alleged real estate scam targeting elderly Arizona citizens.

According to a press release, Edward Trenton Albarracin (aka Trenton Edwards) and Gretchen Marie Zamjahn (aka Gretchen Edwards) are being sued for "allegedly running a predatory real estate scheme that stripped vulnerable homeowners of their property."

The press release says they ran under several names, including "Hands with Hope," to advertise themselves "as professionals who could 'rescue' homeowners from foreclosure," but instead would trick the homeowners into "signing over the deeds to their homes."

"These scammers pretended to offer a lifeline to homeowners in crisis — but in reality, they were stealing people's homes out from under them," said Attorney General Mayes. "This scheme specifically targeted elderly Arizonans who were already struggling, and it used lies, shell companies, and even illegal notarizations to pull it off. Let me be clear: anyone who tries to profit by exploiting vulnerable Arizonans will be held accountable by my office."

To learn more about the lawsuit, click here. To watch the livestream of the announcement, see attached video.